MARCH 26, 1958

NEW YORK—I think I must go back a little and tell you of a journey I took last Thursday.

Our executive committee meeting at the American Association for the United Nations
lasted until five p.m. By that time, you may remember, the storm was getting pretty
bad.

I had asked my own car to come down from Hyde Park to pick up Professor Arthur N. Holcombe and myself and take us to a conference on disarmament at Arden
House, in Harriman, N.Y. In mid-afternoon my driver telephoned to say he had skidded
on the parkway, and would not be able to get the car repaired until the next morning.

As always when I have said I would go, I felt an obligation to try to arrive at my
destination. So, Professor Holcombe being an adventurous soul, I telephoned Roosevelt
Zander, from whom I frequently get cars when I need them in New York City. He agreed
to drive us to Harriman himself, and said that if we left at five o'clock we should
make it by seven-thirty, in spite of the weather.

Since that meant we would be there in plenty of time for the evening session, I even
toyed with the idea of stopping somewhere along the way for something to eat! As we
progressed, however, the storm grew worse.

The Thruway ceased to look like a Thruway. We began to pass trucks off the road, and
soon the cars going in either direction were none too frequent. At seven-thirty we
actually were at the exit where we should have left the Thruway, but the snow had
completely obliterated the sign and we went gaily on toward Albany.

We found ourselves in the wilderness, with the storm howling about us, no signs that
were readable, and a sense that we were never going to arrive anywhere—plus the disquieting
possibility that our gas was going to give out shortly.

Zander had other engagements, and I felt sorry for him. I also felt a little sorry
for myself, because I had been idiot enough to wear a spring suit and a raincoat when
I started out that morning, and by nine p.m., I assure you, I would have liked a fur
coat!

Finally we came off at an exit and found a toll gate. Zander went over to ask where
we were, and the attendant came out of his booth, looked into the car and said, "Mrs.
Roosevelt, I'm so glad to see you! We've met before, in Tokyo and in Bonn, Germany!
You can get gas just beyond the next left turn, then take the first left beyond the
gas station, back onto the Thruway, and I'll call a State trooper to guide you back
to your proper exit."

We nearly missed the left turn because the snow had covered any signs of it, but we
saw a distant light, got our gas, and were back at the toll gate just as the trooper
showed up. He led us back almost to the right exit, where a truck had skidded and
blocked the road.

Zander's big car couldn't get by, but the trooper's little one could, so Dr. Holcombe
and I left poor Zander to find another route back to New York, and the trooper took
us the rest of the way. We reached Arden House at 10 p.m., and enjoyed a very welcome
belated dinner.

I feel very grateful for all the kindness that was shown us on the trip, and particularly
for Zander's cheerfulness and his good driving, which kept us on the road when we
might so easily have skidded into a ditch or impassable snow at any moment. I know
many other people had far more serious adventures during the storm, but I was glad
when ours were over! And I was glad we'd made the effort, for out of 47 people expected
at the conference, almost 30 did manage to get there!